Steam cloth-sponging machine



March 25 -19% S. FISHER STEAM CLOTH SPONG-ING MACHINE 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 24.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY z WITNESSES March 25 1924.

S. FISHER STEAM CLOTH sPoNGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSE March 25 1924. 1,488,039

s. FISHER STEAM CLOTH SPONGING MACHNE Filed Feb. 24, 192s s sheets-sheet INVENTOR BY Ml Ww u ATTORNEY Sar/m wel 'zlsz er llllllllllllllll'l'lnl WITNESS EJ r paratus for this purpose SAMUEL FISHER, GF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STEAM' CLDTH-SPONGENG MACHINE.

Application flied February 24, i923.

To 1U 107mm may concern Be it known that l, SAMUEL FISHER, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county ot' Baltimore City and State ot hilaryland, have invented new and uset'ui lmprovements in Steam Cloth- Sponging Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to an apparatus for sponging cloth for the shrinking thereof preparatory to the making of clothing therefrom. Y

The primary object is to simplify and improve the existing art by producing an ap characteristic ot simplicity in construction, coupled with thorough etliciency in operation, and wherein a revoluble apertured drum having a fabric facing is arranged above the table and upon which the bolt ot cloth rests and over which the cloth is drawn in the sponging process7 means being provided for feeding comparatively dry steam into the drum7 and means beingfun their provided for further drying the steam in its passage through the apertures ot the drum whereby the cloth is effectively sponged without liability of danger thereto.

The invention further resides in other features of construction and the combina-- tion and operative arrangement ot elements to be hereinafter 'tully described, `illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointe-d out in the appended claims.

ln describing the invention in detaila rei!- erence is to be had tothe drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation oft the improvement, with parts broken away and parts .in section. Y

Figure 2 is an cud view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 o1e Figure. l.

Figure 4; is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 1l-4l oi2 Figure 1,

Figure 5 an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the Vsteam inlet end of the drum.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 67--6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the casing and core of the which shall be Serial No. 620,992.

steam inlet cock for the heating` coil in the rotary drum.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the burners, with parts broken away and parts in section.

As disclosed by the drawings.y l make use of a stand or table whose top 1 is supported on corner uprights. The uprights are in the nature ol pipe sections, the front uprights 2 being of less length than the rear uprights 3, the corners ot the top 1 being notched tor the passage oit the nprights 3 thereabove. All of the uprights are connected to the under face of the top in any desired or preferred manner, such for instance as through the medium ot' flanged collars screwed on the uprights and having screws or the like passing through the flanges thereof to enter the top. The nprights, be low the top 1 have screwed in the sections constituting the same couplings 4 for the reception of longitudinal pipe members 5 and transverse pipe brace members 6.

Above the top 1 there is arranged for slidable movement on the rear uprights 2 split sleeves '7 having` their ends termed with outstanding ears through which are passed binding` means 8, whereby the sleeves may be retained adjusted on the uprights. The sleeves have their confronting laces provided with trunnions or bearings tor trunnions on the ends ot a roller 9. Hingedly secured to the rear end ot the table top 1, as at 10, there isa drop shelf 1l. rEhis shelt may be sustained in. horizontal alignment with the top proper through the medium oit rods 12 that are received in suitable bearings 13 on the under tace of the top 1, the

outer ends of the rods being to provicev handles 11i.

A cylindrical steam `eenerating tank 15 is arranged longitudinally below the top l. The tank has its closed ends provided with hangers 16 whose hooked ends are arranged around the transverse brace members 6 oit the table traine. Each ot' thc transverse brace members comprises sections which are centrally connected by T-couplings 17, and to the vertical depending branches ot these couplings there are secured short pipe sections 18 and 19 respectively. The pipe section 18 has on its lower end a collar 20 to receive therethrough the outer or front apertured burner pipe 21. The pipe section 19 has screwed on its lower end a coupling 22 that receives the second end of the burner tube 21 therethrough. The couplings 2O and 21 have smooth bores, and the-end ot the burner received through the coupling 22 is nonapertured, be'ng ieally in the nature oit a short pipe section 23 secured to the apertured burner pipe by a T-coupling 24. To the lateral branch or' the T-coupling 24 there is secured a pipe section 25 that has Vits bore plugged, as at 26, the outer end of the pipe 25 having screwed thereona coupling 27 that has also screwed therein one end ot'. the second apertured burner pipe or tube 28.' Both of the burner tubes have adjust ably secured on their tree ends castings which provide air mixing` chambers 2S and 29 respectively, the saine receiving there-V through the nipple ends oiu cocks v3() secured to a gas mani-fold 31 connected by'a pipe 32 to the house supply. Screwed in the end ot the short pipe section 23 Vthere is a head plug '33 which, contacting with the outer endof the coupling -22 draws on the burner pipe or tube 21 to bring the air mixing chamber 2r Vcoupling 2O of the hold tlieburner rigidly frame.

The rear upriglits 3 of the frame are, of course, of an equal length and each has frame pipe 18 to thus supported by the secured onits upper end lcfouplings 33 and" 3a respectively.` The longitudinal bore of these couplings is smooth, and the coupling 33 provides a bearing for the straiglit'ends 35 of a coiled' pipe 36 that is arrai'iged longitudiiially through a drum 37 the straight end 35 of the said coil 3G'beiugn'clded or otherwise secured to one end drum, the second end of the coil he 7ing a straight extension that passes through the second end of the drum andihasscrew'ed or otherwise secured Ithereon4 a cock 3S arranged exteriorly oli the drum.

The straight end 35 of the coil 36 is provided with exterior threads and has a `flared mouth. In this mouth is received the conical end of a bushingV 39. The bushing has its outer face provided with a centralinteriorly threaded annular extension whose bore communicates with that of the bushing.l

` Screwed on the threaded end of the straightv extension 35 of the coil 3G there is a sleeve ll1 having Vits outer end flanged inwardly, as at ll2 to surround the portion Al0 of the bushing 39 'and to likewise Ycontact with the bushing proper to cause a tight rictional eiigrrge'iiieiit' between the vconical end ol the bushing andthe 'flared mouth of the straight end 35 of the coil. f

` The steam branch pipe' between the ste-ain generating-chamber and the coilV 36 is broadly'` indicated by the numeral 43 the upright'bran-chv of which having its passage controlled by a' manually operated valvelll,"

ticular and thereof linto contact with the of the said ing pipe.

and the valve casing has screwed in its upper end the casing for a cock of a parpeculiar constructioi'i. To the upper end oit' tlie'cock casing Vl5 there is threadedly secured the casing 46 `for a safety valve. The valve in the casing 16, indicated by the numeral 17 is held seated by a spring 11S, and in the outer end of the said casing'there is screwed a nipple L19 having a reduced inner end'to receive therearound the upper convolution ot' the spring 48, the lower convolution being received around the 'lug on the outer face of the valve 47.

The spring is so ad'usted that the valve 'L17 Vwill unseat when steam between the gen erator tank and the coil attains a predetermined pressure.

The bore in the casing l5 for the cock plug is `flared inwardly from its outer to its inner end to receive therethrough the trustecoiiical core 50. The core has secured on its outer closed'end a crank handle 51 and is provided with a plurality of circumfer` entially arranged radiallydisposed series or" restricted ports or openings 52 that communicate with its bore 53, the said apertures or openingsbeing aligne'dwith the branch of the'casing l5 and-consequently being 4in a line with the bore V valve casing 16. The core ingscrewed vin the neck lportion 40 vot the bushing 39, andtlieinnerthreads being engaged by nut 53 for compressing a ,washer 511 against the reduced end of the Ylateral core receiving branchV oit.V the' casin'g45. By

a rotary Vmotion to the vcoil 36 and'to the drum 37 that is suitable packings may befarranged between the ends of the drum andthe means on 'which it is pivotallysupported.

rl`he T-coupling 3 4 has'its lateralbianch which' is connected to one of the rear upkrights of the frame, plugged, as indicated by the numeral 55 Vand the outer end oli` the longitudinal branch of the said coupling is passage controlled by a' hand i operated valve vertical of the safety" 50 is provided1 lwith a reduced 'eiktension".termed|` at its ends f with exteriortlireads,'the outer Vthreads befixed on the coil. O'fcourse,

lli)

preferably reduced, having screwed therein the horizontal brai'ich of 'a steam conductd The vertical and depending'branch 57 of the said steainlconducting pipe has its 5S, and has also connected Vthereto a gauge 5f), whereby the amount oi' steam betweenthe said pipe and the drum can Thebraiich' 57 has its lower end connected by a suitablel 'coupling to a horizontally Vdisposed transverselyarrangedpipe 607 the latter being made up oi' 'sectionsconiiectedto getlier by a T 61 in which is screwed ashort pipe that is likewise screwed in vthe gen 1 erator tank'adjacent to the top'there'of; To

be ascertained.

iasaose the outer end of the pipe 69 there is secured by a suitable coupling a vertical branch 63 whose passage is controlled by a hand operated valve 64 and which has at its end a funnel 65 that provides a filler spout for water to the steam generator chamber l5. Also connected to the said end of the tank l5 there are the spaced short pipes 64 of a tubular gauge 65, the couplings between the short pipes and the gauge having their passages controlled by valves 66 and 67, the lower valve casing being also provided with a drain cock 68 whereby water from the generator tank 15 may find an outlet, when desired. The inner end of the horizontal branch of the T 34 is threaded and has screwed therein a nipple 69. Screwed in the nipple 69 there is a tube 70. Arranged to surround the tube and to cover the open inner end thereof there is a fabric element 7l. Arranged over the portion of the element 7l received on the tube 70 there is a sleeve 72, and arranged over the sleeve 72 there is a second tubular sleeve 73, which latter is received through an inwardly directed annular Hange 74 that surrounds a central opening in the end of the drum. By this arrangement a suitable journal is provided for this end of the drum, and also by this arrangement it will be seen that steam from the generating chamber passing through the closed end of the tubular fabric member 7l will be partly dry before entering the drum, the heat from the steam and the coil 36 further drying the steam, so that the said steam, when directed against the cloth to be sponged, in a manner to be presently set forth, will be delivered in a practically dry state to permit of the Vcloth being sponged and shrunk in an easy and expeditious manner and without liability of danger to the fabric thereof.

The drum 37 has its body portion apertured, as at 75, the said apertures being arranged in series throughout the length and circumference of the said drum, and arranged over the drum to close the apertures 'there is a tubular fabric sheet 77.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows:

The cloth to be sponged is arranged in folds or rolls on the table as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure of the drawings and the shelf 1l is swung to horizontal position as also shown by the dotted lines in the said figure. The cloth is directed around the roller 9 and from thence directed over the drum. Steam is let into the drum through the pipe 56, and as previously stated enters the drum in a practically dry condition. Steam is also admitted into the coil. The crank handle is turned to slowly revolve the drum, and the portion of the cloth passing thereover is permitted to fold itself upon a clean sheet of paper resting on the floor.

Should too much mosphere, while the valve 58 is actuated to control the passage of steam from the generator into the drum. Wlhen short pieces or remnants of cloth are to be sponged, the same is wound around the drum and steam is let into the drum and into the coil in a manner as just described. One end of the cloth is grasped by the hand of the operator and the cloth is slowly unwound from the drum.

. It will be noted that I have provided a simple, efficient and effective apparatus for sponging cloth for tailors use in an expeditious manner, and while I have illustrated a satisfactory embodiment of my improved device, my features of invention are capable of extended application, and I do not wish to be limited to the specific structure shown and described.

Having described the invention, I claim zl. In a cloth sponging apparatus, a table, a drop shelf for the top thereof and means for holding the shelf in alignment with the top, a tank removably supported on the table frame below the top thereof, means for admitting water into the tank, means for indieating the level of water in the tank, means for draining the tank, gas burners including spaced apertured tubes supported by the frame below the tank for heating the water therein to generate steam, a hollow drum supported by the table frame above the top thereof, said drum having series of peripheral apertures and a fabric facing arranged thereover, a roller journaled on the frame below the drum over which cloth supported on the table top is guided to arrange the same over the drum, means admitting steam generated in the tank into the drum, a ltering medium at the steam inlet in the drum, means regulating the pressure of steam in its passage to the drum, means in the drum receiving steam generated in the tank for drying the steam in its passage through the apertures of the drum, and means for revolving the drum.

2. In a cloth sponging apparatus, a water receiving tank and means for generating steam therein, an apertured drum having a fabric facing around which cloth to be sponged is arranged, means admitting steam from the tank through one end of the drum and providing a journal for the said end of the drum, a filtering medium for the hollow journal, a coiled tube in the drum having a str, ight end extending through the second end of the drum, a bearing for said end, the opposite end of the tube passing thro-ugh the first mentioned end of the drum, a cock secured thereon, means for admitting steam from the tank into the coil to heat the same and dry the steam in the drum in its passage llU table, "a tank through the apertures thereof, means for reg-` ulating the admission of steam to the coil, a blowof valve associated with the steam'admitting inea-ns for `he coil,andmeans for revolving the drum.

3. ln a cloth sponging apparatus, a

removably supported beloW the top thereof, means for adinitting water into the tank,"*1neansI for determi-ning the level lof water in the tank, a. drain Outlet for the tank, a burnerbelow the tank for generating steam" therein,"a roller jonrnaled in bearings ladjustable on the table frame above the top thereof, a

closed drum having an apertured periphery and a fabric facing arranged above the roller,

a journal for one end of the drum supportedby one of the table frame members including a pipe, a fabric end surrounding the pipe-,land means sur` rounding the fabrie tube; for vbinding-"the same on the pipe, a Valved pipe 'conne'ction between said journal and generator' tank,'a gauge associated with said pipe, a coiled vpipe steam passage from the tank a cock having its `casing secured to said pipe spring' influenced tube' having a' closed outer arranged longitudinally 'in the drum having screwed on said pipe contactingtl'iebushing to force the latter in frictronal engagement with the former, al Valved pipe providing a t0 the drum,

and having "a conical' Y core securedto the bushing,said ere'lhaving an annular series of apertures in a line Vwith the bore` of the casing and communicating Withthe bore of the coreja handlev vsecured to lthe core, a safetfyv Valve connected to the "cock casing, andthe table `designedy to lreceive cloth to be sponged 'when the latter and aroruid the is guided overthe rollerV drum andthe latter is'turned by the handle of the cockcore. p v Y In testimony "whereof I affix 'my signatur-e.

SAMUEL FISHER. 

